SUSTAINABILITY AT SMEAL

Education

At the Penn State Smeal College of Business, sustainability is a topic woven into the curriculum across multiple academic departments and areas of study. As part of coursework and within student-led initiatives outside of the classroom, students and faculty identify sustainability-related opportunities and challenges, analyze them, and develop frameworks that provide solutions for moving forward.

"There is hardly a major company in the world that isn’t seriously addressing the issue of sustainability. It is our vision that Smeal will be a top business school in this area, joining the University in making this a strategic priority." - Terry Harrison, Member of the Smeal Sustainability Council, Professor of Supply Chain and Information Systems

Coursework

The environmental impact of conducting business in today’s world is considered throughout the curriculum at Smeal. At the undergraduate and graduate levels, courses are designed to enhance awareness and appreciation of the benefits sustainability has to companies and society. Courses in finance, management, marketing, supply chain, and other disciplines feature sustainability components.

Student Organizations

Undergraduate and graduate student organizations also provide a way in which students can apply principles and knowledge on sustainability outside the classroom. Net Impact, a national nonprofit, has two chapters within Smeal at the undergraduate and MBA levels. Both groups are aligned with the organization’s mission to improve the world through programs that educate, equip, and inspire members to make a positive environmental impact through business.